During his tribulation in the mortal realm, he upgraded to fifty more divine-grade Qi Gathering Pills, enough to break through to the seventeenth level of Qi Refining.
As usual, he left his legacy and found a place to cultivate.
Over two hundred days later, the spiritual energy within Xu Ning's body surged wildly, forming a vortex before finally settling.
Xu Ning couldn't help but raise his hand, his palm condensing an immense amount of spiritual energy. About five years had passed since his last breakthrough, and he was breaking through again.
Divine-grade pills were indeed extraordinary!
At the same time, through continuous cultivation over the past few years, his Blood Refining realm had also risen to the seventeenth level.
"Thatched hut, it's time to come up with a plan!" Xu Ning said.
The thatched hut replied, "Activating your foundation only takes time. During this time, you must prepare enough spiritual energy to break through in one go. How many levels you can break through to depends on how well you prepare!"
Xu Ning asked, "So, I need to accumulate enough Divine-grade Qi Gathering Pills to break through to the twentieth level of Qi Refining in one go, and then I can prepare for Foundation Establishment?"
The thatched hut confirmed, "That's right. Take your time. You have plenty of time, and many things haven't been upgraded to Divine-grade yet. Only with Divine-grade can you obtain the Supreme Aura!"
Xu Ning nodded. "Okay!"
After that, Xu Ning had some free time. According to his calculations, he needed to accumulate 980 Divine-grade Qi Gathering Pills, which would take ninety-eight years.
So, besides refining pills and accumulating materials, Xu Ning didn't have much else to do.
As for upgrading array refining and talisman drawing to the legendary level, Xu Ning wasn't in a hurry because he didn't have the materials. He planned to practice other things after his pill refining reached the Divine-grade level.
Having some free time, Xu Ning began traveling back and forth between the mortal realm and the cultivation world. His purpose, of course, was to see how the disciples who had received the inheritance were faring.
Xu Ning didn't know the specific details of those disciples, but he could use his Celestial Observation Technique to determine their approximate locations.
His first stop was a village.
Behind this village lay the deep mountains and forests, the very place where Xu Ning had once undergone his tribulation and left his inheritance.
Riding his iron egg, Xu Ning casually picked three leaves and tossed them out, a smile involuntarily playing on his lips.
Pointing the way for the iron egg, Xu Ning quickly found the person he was looking for, named Fang Chengping.
Judging from his appearance, Fang Chengping had only recently received the inheritance and was just beginning his martial arts training. He was currently practicing in the courtyard.
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Tie Dan carried Xu Ning over and called out, "Fang Chengping!"
Fang Chengping finished his martial arts practice and subconsciously turned around, asking in confusion, "Who are you?"
Xu Ning smiled. "Don't you even recognize me, Master?"
Fang Chengping was startled, then asked warily, "How can you prove it?"
Xu Ning replied, "Heavenly mandate, future changes, Heavenly Mystery Pavilion!"
Fang Chengping was shocked and immediately knelt down with a "plop," bowing deeply. "Master, please accept my bow!"
Every inheritance left by Xu Ning contained coded language related to the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion, for future recognition and to help these disciples recognize each other, preventing them from killing each other.
Of course, Xu Ning wasn't without ulterior motives. The reason he left coded language related to the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion was to make it easy for them to recognize the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion and join it after arriving in the cultivation world, serving Xu Ning. Otherwise, it would be a waste of his efforts to train them.
Among all the disciples, only Gu Mu didn't have the coded language, but he had already joined the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion.
Xu Ning had reminded Lu Shengtong that he had gone to the cultivation world and joined the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion more than thirty years ago.
This way, by bringing all the main characters to the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion and ensuring their absolute loyalty to Xu Ning, he could be invincible even in the face of any major power struggles. Before the fighting even began, the tide would already be in his favor. What could others possibly fight for?
Xu Ning rode Tie Dan into the courtyard and gestured. "Get up!"
Fang Chengping quickly stood up, somewhat hastily saying, "Master, please sit down!"
Xu Ning nodded. "Alright!"
Then, the master and disciple sat down.
After Fang Chengping sat down, he said, "Thank you for your life-saving grace, Master."
Xu Ning replied, "No need to be so polite. Just don't betray your master and ancestors in the future!"
Fang Chengping said, "How dare I!"
Xu Ning nodded. "I will be staying at your house from now on. Do you have any complaints?"
Fang Chengping said, "I wouldn't dare. It's just that my home is simple!"
Xu Ning waved his hand. "It's alright!"
At this moment, a young girl came out of the house. "Husband, who has come?"
Fang Chengping quickly got up and stepped forward. "Youwei, this is Master. Come and pay your respects to Master!"
Then Fang Chengping looked at Xu Ning. "Master, this is my wife, Shen Youwei!"
Shen Youwei quickly stepped forward and bowed. "Shen Youwei greets Master."
Xu Ning felt a strange unease upon hearing this. He glanced at Shen Youwei and then nodded. "Alright!"
He casually picked up a Heavenly Origin Peach and handed it to Shen Youwei, saying, "I don't have anything good to give you. This thing is useless to me, so take it as a greeting gift!"
Shen Youwei immediately waved her hand. "Master, this is not allowed!"
Xu Ning tossed it directly to Fang Chengping. "Take it!"
In an instant, Fang Chengping sensed the peach's special nature. He glanced at Shen Youwei beside him and then knelt down to pay his respects. "Thank you, Master!"
Xu Ning nodded. "No need for such formalities. Get up!"
Just as the two stood up, a noisy commotion arose outside.
Soon after, a large group of people stormed into the courtyard.
The leader arrogantly declared, "Shen Youwei, the three hundred taels of silver your family owes us is due. It's time to pay it back."
Shen Youwei shrank back in fear, pleading, "Chen Zhipeng, my family only borrowed fifty taels. Why is it three hundred?"
The leader, Chen Zhipeng, glared at her. "Borrowed for so long, no interest? If you can't pay, just say so. I've already contacted the brothel. They'll pay the silver for you. You belong to them!"
Shen Youwei shook her head in terror. "No, no! I'm already married! You can't sell me to a brothel!"
Chen Zhipeng said, "It's not up to you. Go! Grab her and send her to the Wan Hua Lou!"
With that, a group of men rushed forward towards Shen Youwei.
Seeing this, Fang Chengping charged forward, activating his Vajra Indestructible Technique, turning his entire body golden. With a single punch, he sent one of them flying.
Those nearby immediately slashed at Fang Chengping with their swords.
However, to their astonishment, Fang Chengping was completely unharmed.
Fang Chengping turned around and kicked the man away. He then used the Snow Shadow Step to accelerate and entered the crowd, attacking relentlessly.
"Husband, be careful!" Shen Youwei was trembling with fear.
Xu Ning calmly said, "Youwei, come to your master. Don't be afraid!"
Shen Youwei turned around and saw Xu Ning, then rushed over. "Master, please save my husband!"